Unfinished Business: Owning Our Therapeutic Process as Helper
Unfinished Business: Owning Our Therapeutic Process as Helper
Have you ever given a client/patient feedback and think to yourself, “Wow, that was pretty profound! Maybe I should take my own advice.” We all have. Certainly we are not perfect humans yet many of our clients think we are. But what happens when we aren’t well? The therapeutic relationship forms the foundation of effective psychotherapy, and the therapist’s use of self plays a crucial role in facilitating positive therapeutic outcomes.
As mental health professionals, it is ethically and critically important we examine our use of self, encompassing genuine engagement, empathy, and ability to establish a safe and trusting environment. As therapists we must recognize and manage our own biases, countertransference, and personal reactions to ensure that our responses align with the client’s needs, rather than being driven by our own unresolved issues. By embracing vulnerability and sharing appropriate aspects of our own lived experiences, therapists can validate and normalize our clients’ emotions, fostering a sense of connection and reducing feelings of isolation.
This workshop will use lecture, discussion, and experiential and didactic exercises to explore the significance of the therapist’s authentic presence and self-awareness, emphasizing their impact on the therapeutic alliance and the client’s overall well-being by owning their own process of healing. We will highlight the importance of therapists prioritizing their mental well-being to enhance their ability to provide competent and compassionate care.
In addition, our work in the larger group will delve into the impact of the therapist’s mental well-being on the therapeutic process. I intend to highlight the necessity for therapists to prioritize self-care, seek supervision, and engage in ongoing personal growth to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue. By taking responsibility for our own mental health, therapists can cultivate resilience, maintain professional boundaries, and sustain a high level of clinical competence.
Emphasis will be placed on the recognition that the therapist’s use of self in the therapeutic relationship is a dynamic and multifaceted process that significantly influences therapeutic outcomes. By harnessing their authenticity, self-awareness, and self-care practices, therapists can establish strong therapeutic alliances and enhance their clients’ overall well-being.
Finally, this workshop will push for continued exploration and integration of these essential aspects into therapeutic training and practice, recognizing their potential to positively transform the field of psychotherapy.
- • Social Worker
- • Marriage & Family Therapist
- • Counselor
- • Substance Use Disorder Professionals
The educational goal of this course is for therapists/helpers to recognize and embrace the truth that they are not perfect beings.
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
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Identify and explain three key roles that unfinished business plays in therapy and the therapeutic process.
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Explain the importance of self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-care for the helper/therapist.
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List and explain four or more ethical considerations relevant to helping professionals (e.g., confidentiality, informed consent, boundaries, competence).
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Identify 3 or more strategies for creating a safe and supportive environment for clients.
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Share 2 strategies for ongoing professional development and supervision to support personal growth as a helper.
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Aponte, H.J. The Soul of Therapy: The Therapist’s Use of Self in the Therapeutic Relationship. Contemp Fam Ther 44, 136–143 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-021-09614-5
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Aponte, H. J., & Kissil, K. (Eds.). (2016). The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the use of self. Jordan, J. V. (2018). Relational-Cultural Therapy (2nd ed.).
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American Psychological Association. Lakioti, A., Stalikas, A., & Pezirkianidis, C. (2020). The role of personal, professional, and psychological factors in therapists’ resilience. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 51(6), 560–570. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000306 Kottler J. A. (2022). On being a therapist (Sixth). Oxford University Press.
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Posluns, K., Gall, T.L. Dear Mental Health Practitioners, Take Care of Yourselves: a Literature Review on Self-Care. Int J Adv Counselling 42, 1–20 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-019-09382-w
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Shelton, K., King Lyn, M., & Endale, M. (Eds). (2022). A Handbook on Counseling African American Women: Psychological Symsptoms, Treatments, and Case Studies. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.
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Yang, Y., & Hayes, J. A. (2020). Causes and consequences of burnout among mental health professionals: A practice-oriented review of recent empirical literature. Psychotherapy, 57(3), 426–436. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000317
Trusted Provider Network, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0654.
TPN.health, #1766, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. TPN.health maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 03/31/2022 – 03/31/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 1 General continuing education credits.
TPN.health is a CAMFT-approved continuing education provider, provider #1000101.
Trusted Provider Network, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0097.
TPN.health has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7267. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. TPN.health is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Trusted Provider Network, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0220.
This course has been approved by TPN.health, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #198061, TPN.health is responsible for all aspects of the programming.This course has been approved by TPN.health, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #198061, TPN.health is responsible for all aspects of the programing. Counselor Skill Group: Legal, Ethical and Professional Development
